THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 7, 1995 TAG: 9511070303
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MYLENE MANGALINDAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Embarking on a mission to improve its hotel's national and international draw, the Christian Broadcasting Network on Monday named Interstate Hotels as the new management company of the Founders Inn.
``We feel it needs to move to a higher level of excellence,'' said CBN president and chief operating officer Michael Little about the five-year-old Virginia Beach hotel and conference center.
CBN will continue to own the Founders Inn, one of a handful of four-diamond hotels in the state, but Interstate will oversee the daily operation of the 249-room hotel, Little said.
CBN brought Interstate, one of the world's largest independent hotel-management companies, on board because it hopes the Pittsburgh-based company's 35 years in the hotel and hospitality business will help establish the Founders Inn's reputation as a renowned destination, Little said.
Interstate wants to improve the marketing of the hotel's guest and conference facilities, particularly the hotel's meeting capabilities, said W. Thomas Parrington, Jr., president and chief operating officer of Interstate Hotels Corp.
``Our primary drive is to bring more meeting business, more conference business,'' he said.
``We're looking at (travel) packages, particularly for the individual traveler and smaller meetings,'' said Parrington, who will try to target mostly a Northeast audience. ``We need to let more people know about it and make it the preference of people coming to this area.''
In addition to bringing improved marketing and employee training programs to the hotel, Interstate will oversee the loosening of the hotel's no-alcohol policy.
Although the Founders Inn will retain a ``no-alcohol'' policy in its public areas, beer and wine may be served at private parties held at the hotel, Little said.
``Some alcohol at a private function could be served,'' Little said.
The company or client wanting to serve beer or wine would probably have to apply for a banquet license, which would apply to individual events like weddings held at the Founders Inn.
Interstate officially gained control of the hotel Nov. 1, when it rehired the hotel's 200 employees.
CBN officials declined to disclose the terms of the management contract.
Interstate, a privately-owned hotel management company, manages 148 hotels in seven countries and employs more than 20,000 worldwide. Its annual revenue is $825 million, Parrington said.
It manages luxury hotels like the former Helmsley Hotel in New York and prestigious resorts like the White Elephant, Nantucket, Mass. It bought the Fort Magruder Hotel Inn in Williamsburg a month ago. Interstate's Robert Mercer has been named general manager of the Founders Inn. ILLUSTRATION: CHARLIE MEADS
The Virginian-Pilot
Michael Little, CBN president and chief operating officer, said the
company will continue to own the Founders Inn. Joining Little at a
news conference Monday was W. Thomas Parrington Jr., right,
president and chief operating officer of Interstate.
by CNB